Day 1 – March 12 – Welcome to Japan! Arrive at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND), and transportation will bring you to our accommodations in Tokyo. We’ll be staying right next to the historic, and beautiful, Tokyo Station. After settling in, join your new travel companions for your first taste of authentic Japanese cuisine at our welcome dinner.

Note: We recommend leaving the US on March 11 so that your flight arrives the afternoon of March 12 – early enough to participate in Day 1’s activities. Should you wish to arrive on March 11 instead, pre-trip hotel charges will be added to your final bill.

Catch the shinkansen bullet train this morning as we travel to Kyoto, the historical heart of Japan. Our local guide will take us to see the breathtaking cherry blossoms of Arashiyama district along the Katsura River, followed by the Kinkaku-ji Golden Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine (the most photographed in Japan).

In the afternoon, we’ll put on traditional kimonos and learn about the history and culture of of Geishas. Geisha, which translates to “art person” in Japanese, is a skilled artisan proficient in singing, dancing, and playing the samisen, a traditional lute-like instrument. First becoming important in Japanese culture in the 1700’s to this day Japanese girls and women will train for decades to become a Geisha. We’ll have the chance to learn from some of these women first-hand.

After exploring Gion, the Geisha district, we’ll board the bullet train to return to Tokyo. Dinner tonight will be a traditional Bento Box, a common type of meal for travel days.

After a good night’s rest, a full day of exploration in Tokyo awaits! Your local guide will highlight Tokyo’s old and new as you move across the city. Witness the trees come alive with cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Parks. Relive history as you visit Meiji Shrine and Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. And experience the scrambling chaos of Shibuya Crossing – the world’s busiest pedestrian intersection.

FREE Day. Enjoy a day of shopping, visit a museum, uncover the art of calligraphy, or take advantage of a full day to visit a Onsen, a Japanese hot springs.

Today, we will venture to Japan’s highest mountain, Mount Fuji, an active volcano which stands at over 12,000 ft tall. After sightseeing at the mountain’s 5th Station, we will continue to the Panoramic Ropeway to enjoy bird’s-eye views of Lake Kawaguchiko. Afterwards, we’ll explore the snowmelt-fed ponds of Oshino Hakkai, a small village that’s perfect for a peaceful afternoon stroll. We’ll also enjoy a private Japanese Tea Ceremony at the Hakkone Museum of Art.

FREE Day. After a week on our feet, take this opportunity to relax. Or perhaps, more adventuring needs to be done – it’s up to you! Tonight at dinner, we’ll toast to a week of discovering a new culture and meeting new friends.

The seaside town of Kamakura is our destination today, home to some of Japan’s most unique shrines and temples. We’ll start our day at the Hokokuji Temple, a Zen Buddhist temple known for its small bamboo grove. Our travels will then take us to Kamakura’s culture center, the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shinto Shrine. Nearby, the Komachi-dori Street offers a modern contrast to the history-filled morning. Peruse the trendy boutiques and enjoy lunch before we end our day at the Hasedera Temple and Great Buddha of Kotokuin Temple, the most iconic symbol of Kamakura. We’ll wrap up the day with a calligraphy, or Shodo, lesson. Practiced since the 6th century, we’ll learn about Japanese language and culture as we pratice this ancient art.